Bhubaneswar: In a tragic incident, an elderly man died after a coconut tree fell on him during a sudden Nor’wester (Kalbaisakhi) storm in Alisa village under Pipili block of Puri district, on Friday night.
The deceased has been identified as Jagannath Behera, a resident of Alisa village under the jurisdiction of Pipili Police Station.
According to reports, Behera had gone to the village temple to attend a religious gathering. The prasad sevan (religious offering) was underway when strong winds from the storm uprooted a nearby coconut tree, which fell on him.
Residents immediately called emergency services. Fire personnel and an ambulance rushed to the scene and carried out a rescue operation. However, Behera had already succumbed to his injuries by the time he was pulled out.
The unexpected tragedy cast a pall over the religious gathering, leaving villagers and devotees grieving.
